Washboard.



PATBNTED 1199.29, 1903. J. L. CONNER.

WASHBOARD. APPLIOATIoIf FILED Nov. 29, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented December 29, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

WASHBOARD.

srnorrrcafrroiv forming part of Lettersratent No. 748,164," ateaDecember 29, 1903.

Application tiled November 29, 1902l Serial No. 133,177. (No model.)

To ttZZ whom it may con/cern.:`

Be it known that I, JOHN L. OONNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District ot' Columbia, have invented newand vuseful Improvements in Washboards, of which the following is aspeci'-A cation. Y A

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inwashboards; and a particular object' of the invention is to provide theboard with an improved means whereby particles of soap are automaticallyfed to the clothes during the rubbing operation.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combinationot' parts which:

I will hereinafter describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the specification, and inwhich similar letters of reference indicate corresponding or piece ofsoap used in-washing is usuallyA placed.

The washboard herein shown for purposes of illustration consists of theframe composed of side members a., top and bottom cross-bars b, arubbing-surface c, and a back attachment or board d, connected to theouter surfaces of the sides ct by pivoted links c, said board d havingratchet-shaped bars f to engage the top of the tub and said linksallowing the back attachment to adjust the board in the manner common tothis class of devices. The board thus shown and described being old andwell-known prior to my inven.- tion, I do not claim the same independentof the attachment and means I will hereinafter describe. Neither do Ilimit my real invention to this board or to any particular frame ofboard or rubbing-surface.

The improvement I have made-to the washboard includes a plurality ofrollers A A' A2, extending, preferably, full across the space above therubbing surface c between the sides a and having their ends suitablyjournaled. Where the device is to be used as an attachment for theboards now in use, I will employ as a part of said attachment the sideplates B, having elongated slots B, in which the vends of therolle'rpintles are loosely mounted, said plates B being screwed orotherwise fastened to the inner surfaces of the sides a of thewashboard.

The rollers have such diameter relative to the width of the side bars avthat the circumference of the rollers is substantially in the plane ofthe rubbing-surface of the board, said rollers forming substantially acontinuation of the upper end of said rubbing-surface, the clothesbeing` alternately dragged and pushed over the rollers to cause rotationof the latter as the rubbing process is proceeded with. The rollers arealso longitudinally grooved, as at D, and a preferred though notessential formof the groove is ratchet-shaped to provide a cutting edgewhich sweeps past the bar or cake of soap and by a cutting actionremoves a shaving or film of soap fromV the action of drawing or pushingthe clothes over them the walls of the grooves of the rollers cut intothe surface of the cake or bar and shave o small but sufficient amountsof soap to insure the proper amount of soapy water or suds for thecleansing of the clothes. As the surface of the soap bar or cake isremoved and the thickness of the bar or cake reduced the rubbingpressure causes the front and back portions of the board to come closertogether, swingiuguupon the links e, thus insuring the clamping of thecake or bar under all conditions and until it is actually ICO cutthrough by the rollers. In other Words, the swinging back membercontinually feeds the soap bar or cake to the rollers and the latterremove and feed the portions of soap to the clothes. In addition tobeing longitudinally grooved the peripheries of the rollers may beroughed by oblique or other grooves g interspersed between the lines oflongitudinal grooving.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a washboard, the combination of side bars, a rubbing-surface, and aswinging back,

Witnesses:

T. WALTER FOWLER, CHAPMAN W. FOWLER.

